Eight persons were reported killed Wednesday when a military helicopter crashed in Ghana’s southern Ashanti region, including Environment Minister Ibrahim Mohammed and Defense Minister Edward Boamah.
The incident included a Ghana Armed Forces Z-9 helicopter that lost communication while flying from the capital, Accra, to the southern gold-mining town of Obuasi.
Three crew members and five passengers were on board when the plane crashed.
Flags nationwide will fly at half-mast in remembrance of the fatalities, according to a statement from Julius Debrah, President John Mahama’s chief of staff, which confirmed the incident and the deaths.
The statement read, “The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country,” the statement read.
Authorities stated that investigations are being conducted, but the cause of the incident is yet unknown.
Shortly after the helicopter was reported missing, rescue personnel were sent to the scene.
